The FA released the figures today in defence of claims it was failing to police the game properly. A spokesman said it proved the FA was getting to grips with corruption and showed its determination to stamp out all wrongdoing.

But the sheer number of inquiries raised concern the governing body lacks the resources to cope. The figures show that out of 1,100 cases investigated by the FA in the 2005-2006 season, 280 - or more than a quarter - related to off-the-field incidents.

These include the activities of agents, financial irregularities, doping, betting and racism and more frivolous incidents such as comments made to the media by managers.

Current investigations include inquiries into agents Jonathan Barnett and Paul Stretford, who represent England stars Ashley Cole and Wayne

Rooney respectively.

Barnett has been charged by the FA for his alleged involvement in Chelsea's illegal approach to Cole when he was an Arsenal player.

Stretford has been charged over the circumstances in which he acquired the right to represent Rooney. Both agents deny any wrongdoing.

Other cases include an investigation into West Ham's Shaun Newton taking cocaine, which led to him being banned.

The FA compliance unit has around 10 officers to deal with the hundreds of cases brought each year but critics claim this is too few. Adrian

Bevington, the FA's director of communications, defended the organisation, insisting it was regulating the game effectively. He said the number of cases investigated showed the FA was taking allegations extremely seriously.

"It is our duty to investigate where we feel it is appropriate to do so. We receive a huge amount of criticism because football is a high profile game. But investigations often take months. They are not straight forward because they mirror the way the legal system works."

The FA is tightening up rules on agents and insists it has beefed up its compliance unit in recent years, recruiting an expolice officer, a forensic accountant and a regulator.

But Graham Bean, a former head of the compliance unit, has accused the FA of still not having

enough resources to tackle corruption. He is sceptical the FA will be able to fully investigate the claims arising from Panorama's broadcast on Tuesday.

"Let's not forget, this is a department that recently took five months to write to a club about a crowd issue, despite having the complaint the day after the fixture," said Bean.

David Mellor, a former head of the taskforce set up by the government to tackle problems in football, branded the FA "inept" and added: "The FA itself is not capable of the leadership the industry requires."

Brian Barwick, the FA's chief executive, has announced a formal investigation into the bung allegations made by Panorama, promising that

every agent, manager and club named by the programme for alleged wrongdoing will be scrutinised.